Rotary brush assembly

ABSTRACT

A holder for a rotary brush assembly formed by two strip-like members which are secured together along their lengths to form a center shaft opening and diammetrically opposed circumferential channels extending from one end of the holder to the other.

United States Patent 1 1111 Parker 11 Oct. 7, 1975 [5 ROTARY BRUSH ASSEMBLY 2,314,334 3/1943 Frantz 15/133 x 2,790,985 5/1957 Harlan 1 15/183 [75] Inventor: 85 Parker Cleveland 3,139,641 7/1964 Grogan et a1. 15/182 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [73] Assignee: Superior Brush Company,

Cleveland, Ohio 642,819 9/1950 United Kingdom 15/179 Filed! J y 1973 Primary Examiner-PeterFeldman [21] APP] No; 380,213 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Watts, Hoffmann, Fisher &

Heinke C0.

[52] US. Cl 15/182; 15/183 [51] Int. Cl A46b 3/04; A46b 9/02; A46b 9/10 [57] ABSTRACT 58] Field of Search 15/179, 180, 181, 182, A holder for a rotary brush assembly formfid by two 15/183 366 386 383, 29/125 128 strip-like members which are secured together along their lengths to form a center shaft opening and diam- 5 References Cited metrically opposed circumferential channels extending UNITED STATES PATENTS from one end of the holder to the other.

1,370,256 3/1921 Adams 15/182 x 2 Cl ims, 2 D awing Figures US. Patent Oct. 7,1975

ROTARY BRUSH ASSEMBLY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to rotary brush assemblies of the type used in cleaning apparatus such as vacuum or suction cleaners, and more specifically to a new and improved brush holder for such assemblies.

Brush assemblies of the type described are typically comprised of a cylindrical roll body which carries a helical brush strip and a beater bar insert. A conventional practice is to make the rolls from wooden dowels which are provided at their ends with bearing inserts and metal caps. This conventional practice has a number of disadvantages which to a large extent are due to the effects of humidity on the wood. In general, changes in humidity can cause wooden dowels to crack, split and /or warp and can cause difficult production problems. For example, if the dowels expand or go out of round because of humidity changes, it may be impossible to assemble the metal end caps. Conversely, if the wood shrinks, the end caps may fall off and/or the dowels may be split by the bearing inserts. Shrinkage and expansion of the wood can also make it difficult to securely attach the brush bristles and beater bars to the dowels.

Additional disadvantages of brush assemblies made with wooden dowels include the necessity of weighting the beater bar inserts which are normally lighter than the brush strips in order to achieve dynamic balance, and the fact that such assemblies are not suitable for wet applications because of the danger or warpage.

Attempts have been made to avoid the foregoing problems by using brush rolls or holders made of plastic or metal. Many of these prior art metal and plastic designs do not have the strength and rigidity to resist twisting and/or deflection during rotation. Another disadvantage of many of the prior art designs is that the rolls or holders are made in several sections which must be accurately aligned and secured together during assembly. Such assembly operations are often complicated and expensive.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved brush holder which is of an economical and efficient construction.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved brush holder which has the strength and rigidity necessary to resist twisting and/or deflection during rotation and which is capable of being economically manufactured.

A more specific object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved brush holder characterized by a pair of symmetrical members which can be economically made in straight sections, as by Stamping, rolling or extrusion, and then connected together to provide channels for mounting a brush strip and beater bar element.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved brush holder comprising a pair of symmetrical striplike members each having a semicylindrical central portion, radially extending webs along the edges of the central portion, and outer channeldefining portions integral with the webs, the mem bers being stamped, rolled or extruded in straight sections which are connected together along their lengths and, if desired, twisted 180 about their longitudinal axis, so that the channel-defining portions form diametrically opposed channels extending from one end of the holder to the other.

Further objects, advantages and a fuller understanding of the invention will be had from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a rotary brush assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is an end elevational view of the assembly shown in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIIVIENTS Referring to the drawing, there is shown a brush assembly 10 which is comprised of a holder 11, a brush strip 12 and a beater bar element 13. The assembly 10 is adapted to be mounted for rotation by a power driven shaft (not shown) extending axially through the holder 11.

As shown in the drawing, the holder 11 consists of two symmetrical members, each including as an integral structure a semi-cylindrical central portion 18, radially extending webs 19 along the edges of the central portion 18, and outer channel-defining portions 20. The holder sections may be stamped, rolled or extruded from metal in longitudinally straight sections which are then suitably connected together, as by spot welding the webs 19, so that the central portions 18 define a cylindrical shaft opening 21 and the outer portions 20 cooperate to form diammetrically opposed channels 22, 23.

The channels 22, 23 define seats for the brush strip 12 and the beater element 13, respectively. According to one preferred method of manufacture, the connected holder members are twisted about their longitudinal axis, whereby each channel 22, 23 extends helically from one end of the holder 1 l to the other. Alternatively, the holder 11 may be left straight so that the channels 22, 23 extend parallel to the longitudinal axis of the holder.

The illustrated brush strip 12 is a conventional structure comprised of a backing member 28 made of a deformable, resilient material such as plastic and bristle tufts 29 which are suitably secured to the backing member 28 along its length. The beater element 13 is made of a material similar to that of the member 28. Both elements 12, 13 are formed as straight strips having grooves along their sides, and are assembled by being flexed and wedged into the channels 22, 23 with the edges of the channels engaged in the grooves.

It will thus be apparent that the invention achieves the objective of providing a brush holder construction which can be efficiently and economically manufactured and, at the same time, has the strength and rigidity to resist twisting and/or flexing during rotation.

Many other variations and modifications of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the foregoing detailed disclosure. Therefore, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention can be practiced otherwise than is specifically shown and described.

What is claimed is:

1. A rotary brush assembly comprising a pair of elongated, symmetrical metal members, each of said memof the connecting web, spaced side-walls extending radially outwardly from said bottom and a mouth which is open along the length of said assembly, and a flexible strip means seated in each channel and engaged between the sidewalls thereof.

2. A brush assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said members are twisted about the longitudinal axis of said assembly so that said channels extend helically.

UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION PATENT NO. 3,909,871

Q DATED October 7, 1975 INV ENTOR(S) I RUSSELL H. R. PARKER It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

' Column 3, line 1, beginning of sentence insert bersline 2, beginning of sentence insert radi line 3, beginning of sentence insert of 5-- line 4, beginning of sentence insert alonline 5, beginning of sentence insert members beleting "nbers" line 6, beginning of sentence insert -conline 7, beginning of sentence insert -defiline 8, beginning of sentence insert sem line 9, beginning of sentence insert -atin line 10, beginning of sentence insert said Signed and Emalcd this third Day Of February 1976 [SEAL] Q Arrest:

RUTH C. MASON C. MARSHALL DANN Arresting Officer (mnmissiuner oj'Parents and Trademarks UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORETJTION PATENT NO. 3,909,871

DATED October 7, 1975 INV ENTOR(S) RUSSELL H. R. PARKER It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 3, line 1, beginning of sentence insert -bersline 2, beginning of sentence insert --radiline 3, beginning of sentence insert of 5-- line 4, beginning of sentence insert -alon line 5, beginning of sentence insert -membersbeleting "nbers" line 6, beginning of sentence insert -conline 7, beginning of sentence insert defiline 8, beginning of sentence 'insert -sem line 9, beginning of sentence insert -atin line 10, beginning of sentence insert -saidl- Signed and Emaled this third Day of February 1976 [SEAL] A ttes t:

RUTH C. MASON C. MARSHALL DANN Arr s ing Officer Commissioner oj'Patents and Trademarks 

1. A rotary brush assembly comprising a pair of elongated, symmetrical metal members, each of said members including as an integral structure a center portion, radially extending webs along both longitudinal edges of said center portion and a channel-defining portion along the outer edge of each web, said webs of both members being secured together in face-to-face contact with said center portions being spaced apart to define a shaft opening extending the length of said assembly and with said channel-defining portions cooperating to form diametrically opposed channels, each of said channels having a closed bottom at the outer edge of the connecting web, spaced side-walls extending radially outwardly from said bottom and a mouth which is open along the length of said assembly, and a flexible strip means seated in each channel and engaged between the sidewalls thereof.
 2. A brush assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said members are twisted about the longitudinal axis of said assembly so that said channels extend helically.
 2. A brush assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said members are twisted about the longitudinal axis of said assembly so that said channels extend helically. 